Wrench



A. J. LAYHON .June 3, 1930.

. WRENCH Filed June 5, 1929 2 Sheets-Shget 1 INVENTOR.

June 3, 1930. A. J. LAYHON 1,761,938

' WRENCH Filed June a, 1929 2 Sheets-Shae? 2 IHIIIHIHH 1mm] INVENTORAmfiwr Laykan Patented June 3, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHURJ. LAYHON; OI LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO.

REUBEN DUNSFORD, OF CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS WRENCH Application filedJune 3,

This invention relates to a wrench of the ratchet type and has for itsprimary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a,wrench of such type including as a part thereof a reciprocal elementadapted to frictionally engage an object to which the wrenchisapplied'when the latter is actuated in one direction and to releasethe object when the wrench is actuated in the opposite direction. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a wrench of the typeaforesaid which is of simple and durable construction, positive andeflicient in operation, and which may be economically manufacture-d.

' With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consistsof the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more particularly de scribed. and as illustrated in theaccompanyiiigdrawings wherein are shown several embodiments of theinvention, but it is to be understood that the description and drawingsare to be taken as illustrative and that the in- 'vention is intended tobe limited only by the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed todesignate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan of a Wrench in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof.

7 Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

- Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

t Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the engaging and releasingpositions of the nut engaging element in the operation of the wrench.

Figure 6- is a bottom plan of a modified form of wrench. Y

. Figure 7 is an elevation of the form shown in Figure 6. V

Figure 8 is a top plan of a further modified form of wrench.

Figure 9 is an elevation of the form shown in Figure 8. g r 7 Referringto the drawings in'detail, the

numeral 1 indicates the body portion of my 1929. Serial No. 368,120.

improved wrench which is of elongated form and provided adjacent itsends with circular openings 2 and 3 respectively. Formed in the wall ofthe opening 2, adjacent the innermost extremity of the latter, is arecess 4 which is of elongated formation and which gradually decreasesin width from its outer end to its inner end with respect to the bodyportion 1. The inner end 5 of the recess 5 is located substantiallymidway between the sides of the body portion 1. A similar recess 6 isformed in the wall of the opening 3, adjacent the innermost extremity ofthe latter.

F ixedly secured to the body portionl, by means of a suitable staple 7is an elongated tension element 8, the ends of which are offset at rightangles to provide noses 9 and 10 respectively. The nose 9 extendstransversely of the body portion through the recess 4 and the nose 10extends transversely of the body portion through the recess 6.

The element 8is formed of resilient ma terial and is flattened for aportion of its length on either side of the steeple 7 to increase theresiliency of the element 8. The flattened portions are indicated atT11.The tension element 8 is so disposed as to normally maintain the noses 9and 10 at the inner ends of the recesses 4 and 6 respectively. Theflattened portions 11 are disposed with their narrower dimensionsextending in the direction of travel of the noses and with their widerdimensions extending at right angles to the narrower dimensions.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 the body portion 12isformed at one end with a circular opening 13, the wall of which isprovided with a recess 14 which is similar to the recesses 4 and 6heretofore described. In this form, the tension element 15 is in theform of an arcuate rod, one end of which is right angularly offset forextension through the body portion 12 whereby the rod is pivotallyconnected with the body portion. The'free end of the offset portion isupset as indicated at 16 for maintaining the rod and body portion inassembled relation.

The oppositeend ofthe rod- 15 is right angularlyofis'et to provide anose 17 which corresponds to the noses 9 and 10 heretofore described.The nose 17 is normally maintained at the inner end of the recess 14 bymeans of a coiled spring 18, the respective ends of which are secured tothe nose 17 and to the outer end wall of therecess. 14:. v H

In the embodiment, illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 the bodyportion 19isof elongated, tapered formation and is formed at its Wider end with acircular opening: 2.0 having. its.

wall formed withiaflrecess 21which; corressponds to the recesses 4, 6-and 14; heretofore described. The end face of the body port-ion" 19, atthe smaller end of the latter, is formed with a notch 22 for thereception therein of a" tension element 23. The-tension element. 23,.

right angularly offset hook member 27 which bears against an edge faceof the-body portion 19. The tension: element 23 is formed of re-.

silient. material and normally maintains the nose 25 at the inner end ofthe recess21. The end portion 2 4 of the tension element is" flattenedas indicated at 28 to provide such end portion with increasedresiliency.V

In the operation of the embodiment ofv my invention illustrated inFigures 1 to 5,, the;

body portion is applied to. an object. such as a nut 29 with the latterextending through the opening 2: when it is desired to rotate the ob-.ject in a clock-wise direction. By swinging the opposite end of the bodyportion inan arc It is thought that the many advantages of a wrench inaccordance with this invention will be readily apparent, and'althoughthe.

wrench will preferably be constructed in ac cordance with theembodimentsherein illus- T -d. an idescribi it'is t he -unde that various changesin the details of construction may be resorted to,"so long as suchchanges fall within the scope of the invention asdefined-in theappendediclaim'... 1 1 V .Wh at Iclaim'is:

A wrench comprising, a body portion formed adjacent "one end with acircular opening, the wall of said opening being formed a with anelongated'recess decreasing in width from one end. to. the other,. and;an elongated, resilient element fixedly secured at one end to the bodyportion and having, itsother end formed; with a nose extending throughsaid recess; and projecting into said opening, said element being underalateraltension to normally maintain the nose at the narrower'en'd' ofithe recess and further being'circul'ar' in cross s section and having aportion of its length flattened to provide such portion with relativelywide. and narrow dimensions extending at right angles to each other,said I relatively narrow dimension 'extendinginthe direction of travelof the nose to increase the operative resilieneyfof the. element. j

;In testimony Whereof', I aifi'xf signature hereto. V

ARTHUR J.- "L YH N."

in'aclock-wise directionthe nose, 9 is-wedged. 7

between the wall of the recess 4 and the per riphery of the object 29to. frictionally engage the latter. Uponswinging the opposite end of thebody portion in a counter-clockwise direction, the nose 9 will be movedlongit.udi-. nall-y of the recess t against the tension ofthe element 8whereby the body portion will be. permitted to turn, relative to theobject 29.. Ifit is desired to rotate theaobject. 29 in acounter-clockwise direction, the body portion 1 may be inverted or. maybe ,applied'to the object with the latter extending through the opening3. Prefer-ably the openings 2 and 3 willbeof difi'erent' diametersinorder to adapt the-Wrench for use in connection with objects ofdifferent sizes] In the embod'ments illustrated in 6 .to 9 the operationis the same as above described when it is desired to. rotate anobject ina clockwise direction. I Whenit is desired to rotate theobject in acounter-cloclz-wise direction the body portions 12 and 19"respec tivelyare inverted.

